Ruby Harris Williams

   Ruby Harris Williams, 86, loving wife and mother, passed away peacefully Friday morning, January 19, 2018 at her home where she was surrounded by her loving family.

   Born on July 7, 1931 in the tiny Beaufort County community of Small, NC, she was the fourth child of the late Stacy Thomas and Bertha Price Harris. Known as a woman of deep devotion to her Lord and Savior, she was undyingly devoted to her husband, children, her church, and to the faith community of Edenton.

   Ruby was born into a loving family of farmers and carpenters. A 1949 graduate of Aurora High School, she received the superlative of “Most Witty”. At a basketball game in 1948 between Aurora and Hobucken High School, she met the captain of the Hobucken team and the love of her life, Orval G. Williams. On April 7, 1951, she married him at White Hill FWB Church in the Small community. Six children were born to their union, children whom Ruby considered her highest calling in life. She and her family traveled in the 1970’s throughout North Carolina and were known as The Singing Williams Family.

   When Ruby was 58 years old, she earned an Associate’s Degree in Theology from Covington Seminary in Tennessee, and for several years served as a teacher at Immanuel Christian School in Edenton. Later she helped her husband on his “Little Debbie” delivery route, where she was loved by all and referred to as Miss Ruby. For the last 25 years she was a faithful member of Open Door Church in Edenton.

   In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Orval G. Williams, and by her brothers-in-law, Guy Ireland, Bill Mayo, and Gene Potter.

   Surviving are four daughters, Diane Dunlow and husband Billy of Windsor, and Sherry Brower and husband Gary, Corrine Twiddy and husband Mike, and Wendy Basnight and husband Scooter, all of Edenton; two sons, Gary Williams and wife Sherry of Wendell and Neal Williams and wife Tammie of Robersonville; three sisters, Dorothy Ireland of Norfolk, VA, Myra Mayo of Aurora, and Jean Potter of New Bern; a brother, James Harris and wife Fran of Raleigh; 13 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews, all of whom were dear to her heart.

   Funeral services will be held Monday at 11:00 a.m. in the chapel of Miller Funeral Home & Crematory, 735 Virginia Road, Edenton, and will be conducted by her son, Pastor Gary Williams. Burial will follow in Beaver Hill Cemetery. Friends may join the family Sunday from 6 to 7 p.m. in the funeral home, and all other times at the residence, 1402 West Queen Street.

   Online condolences may be made by visiting www.millerfhc.com.